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Denver Zoo officials said a sad goodbye Wednesday to their South African lion Rian, who at 15 was battling an aggressive form of lymphoma. Veterinarians at the zoo and Colorado State University were treating Rian with chemotherapy developed for domestic cats, a first that they had hoped would help develop a protocol for other big cats with cancer. "Originally we did see incremental levels of improvement in Rian, but in the last couple days it became evident his quality of life was quickly diminishing and we decided it was time to say goodbye," said veterinarian Betsy Stringer. "We hope some of what we learned with Rian will help another lion down the road."

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The Glass Packaging Institute is touting the benefits of glass bottles in a new "Upgrade to Glass" ad campaign targeting millennials. The spots feature younger drinkers ditching beer cans, boxes of wine and red plastic cups for goods in glass. "We wanted to reach millennials and really get them thinking about what kinds of containers they're buying their favorite beer, wine or soda in, because it matters," GPI President Lynn Bragg said. "Not only does glass look great for beverages like beer, but beverages taste better in glass, it keeps beverages cooler, and it's a sustainable packaging choice."

When it comes to deciding if euthanasia is right for an ailing pet, experts say it depends on the animal and the owner. Veterinarians offer guidance and support, but they say the decision should ultimately be made by the owner. Everyone handles grief differently, but experts urge people to take time to grieve before thinking about a new pet. "None of us can really understand what another person is going through," said Dorothy Hall, a nurse who facilitates a support group. "We just have to acknowledge it as a real significant loss."

Increasingly, owners are choosing at-home euthanasia for their pets, and companies such as Lap of Love provide house-call veterinarians for this sad step in a pet's life. Veterinarian Dawnetta Woodruff, one of 70 veterinarians with Lap of Love, which operates in 20 states, said she euthanizes 15 to 20 animals at clients' homes each month and notes that euthanasia at home is a peaceful experience for owners and pets. "I realized that being able to help people through that very difficult time is a big honor," said Dr. Woodruff.

In an effort to assist other pet owners struggling with end-of-life issues regarding their animals, Tina Ferner developed a package of information designed provide guidance for decisions during a pet's final days. Ferner consulted with veterinarian Alice Villalobos, a founding member of Veterinary Cancer Society who developed an end-of-life assessment for owners. "The scale offers some objectivity while remaining sensitive to the caregiver's wishes," Dr. Villalobos writes on her website. "It will relieve guilt feelings and engender the support of the veterinary team to actively help in the care and decision-making for end of life."

The toughest decision for loving pet owners is often the final one, and the struggle to determine whether to euthanize beloved pets that are suffering or let nature take it's course is never easy. Veterinarian and Atlantic Veterinary College professor Peter Foley advises pet owners to consider the animal's quality of life and says one key indicator may be when medicine isn't enough to stem the suffering of terminally ill dogs and cats.